Panel board



R. B. BENJAMIN 4 PANEL BOARD Filed June 14, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ja 13,1925. 1,523,101 B. BENJAMIN PANEL BOARD Filed June 14, 1920 s Shet s; She e-c 2 30 2,6 4T\56 a? as 3:;

R. B. BENJAMIN PANEL BOARD Filed June 14 192,0 a Sheets-Sheet s Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

,BEUBEN Bi BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMDT ECTBIO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PANEL BOARD.

i Z '0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJA- MIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Panel Boards, of which the followingis a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to' panel boards and it has especial relation to standard and interchangeable units for use in boards of the character designated. One object of my invention isto so form a panel board unit that branch circuits may be derived therefrom from either a twowire or a three-wire circuit without involving a great deal of re-organization. In this connection it is desirable that fuse receptacles are provided whereby both sides of the branch lines which are connected to the board unit may have afuse inserted therein. By constructing a panel board unit in accordance with my invention this protection is provided irrespective of the number of 'wiresin the main circuit.

I attain this object by forming the center contacts of some of the receptacles integrally with the respective bus bars to which they are connected. Again, means are provided whereby a neutral bus-bar may be connected to either set of receptacles.

The panel board unit comprises an insulating base member with which the receptacles and bus-bars are so associated that the neutral bus member may be used or dis regarded, as desired. To this end, I provide channels in theinsulating base which are so formed that connecting members may be seated therein whereby any desired connections may be obtained.

l The bus bars which are positioned on the aforementioned base section are provided at both ends with interfitting slpts whereby a number of my base sections" may be built together to form a unitary panel board of any desired capacity.-

It is-another object ofgny invention to so associate with the aforesaid base section, or any number of them rece'ssed cap portions which register with the base portions and,

by covering all of the line portions of the b latter, constitute a dead frontfpanel board.

5 Both of the aforesaid portions, that is the 1920. Serial No. 388,827.

cap portion and base portion, are provided tion reference may be had to the'accompanying drawings, in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a plan view. of a panel board constructed in accordance with my invention, and a containing casing therefor, a hinged cover for said casing being opened;

Figs. 2 and 3 are elevational sectional views taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l and line 33 of Fig. 2, respectively;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a base section embodying my invention, the neutral or central bus-bar being shown as connected to the branch circuits;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 55 of Fig. ,4, showing the method by which the branch wiring leads are connected to the shell contacts of the base-section receptacles;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a base section embodying my invention, the neutral-or central bus-bar not being connected to the branch line system;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary, elevational, sectional views of a portion of the casing-and a portion of a cap member,

portion 20 and a cover 21 associated therewith. The latter is formedwith an; opening which may be closed by a hinged lid22. Beneath: the lid 22 is positioned a panel rate with the opening in the cover 21.

Thepanel board comprises a base section oard which is substantially commensuformed with up-standinguportions 25--25 constituting barriers whereby'the sides of the dished portion of the casing and said nector 39 by a screw 42.

barriers form wiring gutters a s'shownat the right of Fig. 2.

Referring now'to F igs. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the base section 23 has}bus-bars 26, 27 and 28 mounted thereupon. The base section 23 is so molded that the buses 26 and 28'may alternately overand under-lie the same. As shown most clearly in'Fig. 7, a portion 29 of the bus 26 isso formed on an overlying portion thereofthat it constitutes a center contact for a receptacle 30, said receptacle being also provided with a shell contact 31 By reference to .Fig. 7 it will moreover be observed that the underlying portion of the bus 26 is completely insulated from a receptacle 32 lying in the same vertical plane 'as said bus 26. The ends of the buses are all provided with slots and threaded securing means whereby any number of sections such as 23 may be secured together, and the busbars thereupon form continuous conducting members.

The bus-bar 28 is also provided with overand under-lying portions, a center contact 33 for a receptacle 34 being formed integrally with the overlying portion thereof. It will be observed, however, that the position of the under and over-lying portions of the two bus-bars above referred to are so reversed that the receptacles embodying center contacts formed integrally with the uses are positioned at diagonally opposite corners on the base 23. A receptacle 35 is positioned in the plane of the bus 28 and, it will be observed,-is diagonally opposite the receptacle 32.

Transverse channels 36 and 37. and a diagonal channel 38, are formed in the base 23. An integral member 39 which is adapted to be seated in the channel 38, extends into and forms center contacts 40 and 41 for the receptacles 32 and 35, respectively.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the bus-bar 27 maybe electrically connected to the diagonally-extending con- A connector 43 is seated in the channel 36 and serves to connect the overlying portion of the bus 26 to the center cont-act 41, the latter being formed integral with said connector. In an analagous manner in Fig.6 a connector 44 is seated in the channel 37 and serves to connect the overlying portion of the bus 28 to the center contact 40, the latter likewise being formed integrally with the connector 44.

Each of the receptacles, above described, comprises a comparatively short shell contact 31 or 45 and flange portions 46 and 47 formed integrally therewith: Passing through the portion 46 are two screws 47 which serve to draw a plate 48 toward the flange portion thereby firmly securing a lead 49 in electrical contact-with the shell portion of the receptacles. This particular" construction of shell'contact is quite advantageous for the reason just described, as

'well as because of the facility with which the outwardly extending flange member is screwed to the base section. 1 Moreover, a receptacle of this character differs in a large degree from those of the prior art in that the fuse plug passes completely through the shell portion 45 and 'down onto the "center contact, the latter being at a lower level than the bottom of the threaded portion. There is, therefore,

a considerable air space between the shell and center contacts of receptacles 'made in this manner. Again, as illustrated at the right of Fig. 7, the bus bar of different potential passes under the receptacles at still another level whereby what may be termed a through-level base is formed. This separation of portions of different potential on different levels is extremely advantageous, especially in a panel board because of the protection thereby afforded] against short circuits when a fuse-blows out, as well as insuring better insulation in the panel board as a whole, with a mini mum space consumption.

The cap port on 24 is adapted to reglster with the base section and its associated 3 individual base section or, as shown Fig.'

2, a cap portion may extend over two base sections. In Fig. l, I have shown one set of apertures onthe cap portion as provided with knock-outs 51, which may be removed when a base section is positioned beneath that portion of the cap. Two varieties ofthese knock-outs are illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12.

lVhile the provision of barriers 25 results in an extremely simple structure, it may be desirable, in some cases, to form a wiring gutter by bending a portion 52 of the cover 21 downwardlyas shown in Figs. 9 and 10. and so molding the cap piece 24 that the bent portion 52 fits snugly therewith.

From a consideration of Figs. 4 and 6 it will be seen that, by forming a base section, as shown, and by associating therewith a plurality of receptacles and busesas here tom and, inasmuch as the center it will be observed that a fuse receptacle is positioned in the outgoing circuit and in the return circuit. By simply changing the connectorsas shown in Fig. 6, two branch circuits may be derived from a two-wire system, the same base section being used and fuse receptacles will be positioned in each of the outgoing and each of the incoming branch lines.

Tracing-connections, for instance, from a three-Wire system, as shown in Fig. 4, the current will flow from bus 26 through center contact 29, through the fuse connected there returning therefrom throu through the center to, the shell contact 31, the outgoing line of the branch circuit positioned at the left of the base 23 back to the shell contact 45 of the receptacle 32, through the fuse screwed therein into the center contact 40, through the connector 39, down the screw 42, and into the neutral bus 27. A circuit from the bus 28 and the center contact33 formed integrally therewith, may be traced in an analagous manner through a branch circuit positioned at the right of the base 23.

It will be observed, as above pointed out, that two fuses are positioned in each branch circuit, one in the outgoing line and one in the returning.

lVhen it is desired to derive branch circuits from a two wire system the connecting members 43 and 44 are positioned as shown in Fig. 6, the diagonal connector 39 being removed from its channel. A branch circuit to the left in this figure may be traced from the bus 26 through a fuse in the receptacle 30, out through a branch circuit and returning therefrom to the shell contact of the receptacle 32, into the center contact 40 through the connector 44, and thence'into bus-bar 28. In the branch .circuit just traced fuses were inserted therein at the receptacles 30-and 32. Again, tracing from the bus bar 26 a branch circuit may be derived at the rightof the base 23 as fol lows:

From the bus 26 though the connector 43, the center contact 41. the fuse in the receptacle 35, out through a branch circuit and gh the shell contact of the rec ptacle 34, through the fuse positioned in the latter, and into the bus 28 contact 33. In the branch circuit last traced it will be observed is formed' tot that the fuses positioned on the receptacles 3% and 35 are positioned whereby the requisites, heretofore pointed out for circuits of this character, are satisfied.

lVhile I have described but oneembodiment of my invention it is apparent that may occur to I desire, thereonstrued broadthe showing of the described, ith a plurality both sidesof the and by the scope of the appended medial line. buses associated with said baseand said receptacles and being provided with means whereby aplurality of said bus members may be connected together to form a sectionaliy'ed receptacle board, some of said buses being n'ovided with portions which function some of said receptacles, and means whereby the'other'bus may be connected to form center contacts in the remaining receptacles. In a device of the character described, a base member provided with a plurality of receptacles arranged on both sides of the medial line, buses associated with said base and said receptacles and being provided with means whereby a plurality of said bus members may be connect a sectionalized recepta le board. some of the said buses associated with said receptacles functioning as the center contacts thereof, and means whereby the other bus maybe connected to form center contacts for the remaining receptacles, said means comprising a member which may be connected to the appropriate bus and which has formed integral therewith portions which function as the center contacts of the remaining receptacles.

3. In a device of the character a base member having tacles comprising shell associated therewith, base, means on said connection of the described,

and center contacts buses mounted on said center contacts of trans versely opposite receptacles, and means pier mitting the connection of the center contacts of receptacles, diagonally situated with reisapect to each other, to the centrally located 41. In a device of the character described, a base member having a plurality of receptacles associated therewith, buses mounted on said base in substantially parallel relation, the outside buses having alternate portions over-lying and under-lying the top and bottom of said base, the over-lying portions being formed integrally with center contacts as the center contacts of ed together to form base admitting of the a plurality of recepv of some of the receptacles positioned in. the same planes. I v 5. In a device of the character descrlbed,

a base member havinga plurality 'of recepta vmg, formed integrally with the center. contacts of some of thereceptacles positioned in thesame planes.

6.111 a device of the character described, a base member having a plurality of receptacles associated therewith. buses mounted on sa-i'dbase, in substantially parallel relation, the outside buses having alternate portions overlying and underlying the top and bottom of said base. respectively, and the central bus being entirely underlying, the

overlying portions of said outside buses being formed integrally with center contacts of some of the receptacles positioned in the same planes. and means admitting of the connection of said central underlying bus to the center contacts of the other receptacles in said outside bus planes.

7. In a device of the character described, a base member having a plurality of receptacles associated therewith. buses mounted on said base. in substantially parallel relation, the outside buses having alternate portions overlying and underlying the top and bottom of said base, respectively. and the central bus being entirely underlying, the overlying portions of said outside buses being-, formed integrally with center contacts of some of the receptacles posltioned 1n the same planes, and integral connecting mem-.

bers extending into. and forming the center contacts of, the other receptacles in said planes.

8. In a device of the character described, a base member having a plurality of receptacles associated therewith, buses comprising portions forming center contacts for some of said receptacles and having portions overlying and underlying said base, and another bus entirely underlying said base, said base having channels formed therein in which members connecting the other receptacles to said buses may be positioned. u 9. In a device of the character described, a base member having a plurality of receptacles associated therewith, buses comprising portions forming center contacts for some of said receptacles and having portions overlying and underlying said base, and another'bus entirely underlying said base, said base having channels formed therein in which members connecting the other receptacles to said buses may be positioned, and means comprising an integral member seated in one of said channels for connecting the underlying bus to the center contacts of the other. receptacles.

110: In a device of the character described,

a base'member having a plurality of receptacles associated therewith, buses comprising portions forming center contacts for some of said receptacles and liaving portions'overlying and underlying said base, and another bus'entirely underlying said base, said base having channels formed therein to receive connecting members to be seated in some of said channels for connecting said outside buses to the center contacts of the other receptacles.

11. In' a device of the character described,

a base member havinga plurality of receptacles associated therewith, buses comprising portions forming center contacts for.

some of said receptacles and having portions overlying and underlying said base, and another bus entirely underlying said base,said base having channels formed therein to receive connecting members to be seated in some of saidchanncls for connecting said overlying portions of the outside buses to. the center contacts of the other receptacles. I 12.-In a device of the character described,

a base having-a plurality of buses mounted thereupon, a plurality of fuse receptacles,

same of said buses having alternate portions overlying and underlying said base, the overlying portionsforming the center contacts of some of said receptacles, means whereby .tWo branch circuits may be derived from said device in either a three-wire or a two-wire circuit, each branch circuit embodying at least two fuses therein, irrespective of the character of the main circuit.

13. In a. device of the character described,

a base, three buses and four fuse receptacles mounted thereupon, some of said buses having alternate portions overlying and underlying said base, the overlying portions formmg the center contacts of some of said receptacles, means whereby a branch circuit may be derived from each side of said base in either a three-wire or a two-wire circuit, each branch circuit having a fuse in the outgoing side and a fuse in the return side, irrespective of the character of the main circuit.

' 14. In a device of the character described, a base member having a plurality of receptacles, and bus bars having portions over and underlying said base associated therewith, the shell contacts of said receptacles;

the center contacts of the receptacles, and

the underlying portions of the buses being positioned in three distinct levels.

15. In adevice of the character described, a base member; having a, plurality of receptacles and bus bars having portions overand under-lying said base associated therewith, the lower edge of said receptacle shell contacts being positioned somewhat above the center contacts of the same receptacles, and the underlying portions of the buses being below said center contacts.

16. In a, device of the character described,

a base member, a plurality 0t bus-bars associated therewith, fuse receptacles adapted for connectiorl with said bars and means comprising interchangeable elements and adapted foi connecting said receptacles to said bus-bars to eventuate eithera three- ,WllG or a two-w1rc system, as desired.

- changeable 17. In a device of the character described, a. base member, a plurality of. bus-bars associated therewith, fuse receptacles adapted for-connection with said bars some of the receptacles having permanent connection with two of said bars, and means comprising interchangeable connecting elements to permit of either the connection of the remaining receptacles to the opposite one of the two bus-bars tio eventuate a twowire system,,or the connection of said remaining receptacles-to a bar otherthan said above mentioned two bars to eventuate a threewire system.

181 In adevice of the character described. a base member, three bus-bars positioned thereupon, receptacles mounted thereon and connected to the outside of said bars, other receptacles mounted thereon and adapted for proper connection with said bars to eventuate either a. two or three-wire system, as desired, and means comprising intermembers whereby said receptacles may, at will, be connected as stated.

19. In a device of the character described,

1 system may be a base -member, three bus-bars positioned thereupon, receptacles mounted thereon and connected to the outside of said bars, other receptacles mounted thereon and adapted for proper connection with said bars to eventuate either a two or three-wire system, as desired, by means comprising interchangeable members whereby said recepta-- cles may, at will, be connected as stated, one of said members adapted to extend from one receptacle to another and be connected to the middle bus-bar whereby a three-wire formed, and the others of sa1d members being adapted to extend from one receptacle to the opposite outside bus- .bar for two-wire connection.

20. In a device of the character described, a base member, three bus-bars positioned I thereupon,receptacles mounted thereon and ceptacle maiy,

connected to the outside of said bars, other receptacles mounted thereon and adapted for proper connection with. said bars to everituate either a two or three-wire system, as desired, by means comprising three interchangeable members whereby said reat will, be connected as statedune 0 id members adapted to extend from a receptacleon one side of the middle bus-bar to receptacles on the opposite sides of said bus-bar and be connected to said middle bus-bar to eventuate a threewire system, and the other two members adapted to extend from bus-bars to receptacles on the opposite sides of the base to eventuate a two-wire element, said members being formed to establish the center contacts of the receptacles with which they are associated.

21. In a device of the character described, a base member, three bus-bars positioned thereupon, receptacles mounted thereon and connected to the outside of said bars, other neceptacles mounted thereon and adapted for proper connection with said bars to eventuate either a two or three-Wire system, as desired, by means comprising interchangeable members whereby said recepta cles may, at will,-be conncctedas stated, one of said'members adapted to extend from one receptacle to another and be connected to the middle bus-bar whereby a three-wire system may be formed, and the others of said members being adapted to be connected from one receptacle to the opposite outside bus-bar for two-wire connection, said base being grooves for the reception of any of said members which-it is desired to use.

I 22. In a device of the character described, a base member, three bus-bars positioned thereupon, receptacles mounted thereon and connected to the outside of said bars; otherv receptacles mounted thereon and adapted for proper connection with said bars to eventuate either a two or three-wire system, as desired, by means comprising interchangeable members whereby said receptacles may, at will, be connected as stated, one of said members adapted to extend from one receptacle toanother and be connected to the middle bus-bar whereby a three-wire system may bet-ormed, and the others of said members being adapted to extend from one receptacle to the opposite outside busbar for two-wire connection, said base being provided with channels or grooves for the reception of'any of said members which it is desired to use, said grooves extending between the receptacles and buses to be conprovided with channels or nected and being formed of somewhat the same configuration as to receive, for any particular connection, only'the correct connecting member therefor. I

23. A panel board construction comprising an insulating base, center and shell contacts for fuse receptacles mounted on said base, and a cover for said shell contacts overlying said base, readily'removable from said contacts and having openings in which said contacts lie to permit the entrance of the fuse plugs, the plane of the inner edges of said Shell contacts lying a substantial discenter contacts, said shell contacts having outwardly extending flanges seated on said base between said base and cover.

25. A panel board construction comprising an insulating base, center and shell contacts for fuse receptacles mounted on said base, and a cover for said shell contacts overlying said base, readily removable from said contacts and having openings in which said contacts lie to permit the entrance of the fuse plugs, the plane of the inner edges of said shell contacts lying a substantial distance outwardly from the plane of the center contacts, said shell contacts having outwardly extending flanges seated on said base between said base and cover, said flanges being provided with wiring terminals. 1

26. A panel board construction comprising an insulating base, center and shell contacts for fuse receptacles mounted on said base, and a cover for said shell contacts over-lying said base, readily removable from said contacts and having openings in alignment with said shell contacts to permit the ens inner edges of said shell contacts lying a substantial distance outwardly from the plane of the center contacts.

27..A' panel board construction comprising an insulating base having plug receiving recesses therein, and provided with shoulders adjacent said recesses lying in a plane substantially above the bottom of said recesses, a center contact in each recess sub stantially below the plane of said shoulders, a plurality of threaded shell contacts, one for each recess, each shell contact having an outwardly extending flange extending from its lower edge and resting on one of said shoulders,

28. A panel board construction comprising an-insulating base having plug receiving recesses therein, each-recess being provided with a shoulder ii'iterinediate the top andbottom of the recess, a center contact in 'each recess substantially below said shoulder portion, a plurality of threaded shell contacts, one for each recess, each shell contact having an outwardly. extending flange extending from its lower edge and resting on said shoulder, a binding terminal adjacent said flange, said base being provided with passages for the branch wires leading from said binding terminal to the edge of the base.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

'trance of the fuse plugs, the plane of the 

